It's very likely the Athletics will leave Oakland

[Auggie]

Don't blame the city. The A's and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred are asking Oakland to help subsidize the $12 billion (!) project at a location fraught with logistical and operational complications. A's are also balking at Oakland's request that a share of the 3000 new housing units being developed be designated "affordable."

We've heard this happen many times in other cities, of course. But not in Oakland. They wouldn't get conned by the Raiders again. They're not going to get conned by the Athletics.

[multigraincracker]

1. Can they get San Diego to spring for it.

[underpants]

2. The team only has a payroll of $83M. 25th in the MLB

and they at $12 Billion?

Where could they go? Somewhere near silicone valley?

[Auggie]

8. Las Vegas ...

but I cannot imagine them playing baseball there without a roof. Add $$$ to their stadium budget.

The San Francisco Giants own rights to Silicon Valley and San Jose.

Nashville and Portland are rumored.

[underpants]

10. Okay VEGAS I could see

Side note - Pete Rozelle would have never let an NFL be in Vegas.

Nashville I could see too.

[Auggie]

11. Nashville would be a bit of schlep to the west coast ...

can't see K.C. and the Athletics flipping divisions either.

Screw 'em and their greedy owners.

[RockRaven]

3. The team's "stadium" proposal is really just a real estate development deal with a veneer of a

professional sports team on the public facing side.

They would get access to a unique/prime piece of land, and besides the 35000 seat stadium stadium also build: 3000 residential units, 1.5 Million square feet of office space, 270 thousand square feet of retail space, a 3500 seat theater for live performances, 400 hotel rooms.

The city only gets one shot at dictating/influencing how this land gets developed into dense residential/commercial stuff. If there isn't enough affordable housing in the proposal, don't get hung up on the stadium/sports team angle. Fuck 'em. This is a fundamentally real estate development project, not a stadium project, make sure you get the non-stadium part of the deal done correctly.

[Auggie]

9. This proposal creates big problems for the Port of Oakland ...

the fifth busiest container port in the United States. It'll also create traffic/parking nightmares in Oakland's nearby Chinatown neighborhood. There's poor vehicular access as well.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. Were they in Kansas City long ago?

[rurallib]

5. Philly to KC to Oakland

KC from 1955 to 1967

[LastDemocratInSC]

6. I remember when the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta.

[rurallib]

7. believe they were still in Boston when I was born

moved to Milwaukee in 1952.

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. Me too. Shows how old we are.

Then in 1966 I got to attend my first Major League baseball game at the age of 19 thanks to the Braves moving to nearby Atlanta. Back in those days poor college kids like me could buy outfield tickets for $1.00. Better seats were only $5.00. Got to see a ton of future Hall of Fame guys play in person that year including Hank Aaron, Joe Torre, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Mathews, Don Drysdale, Juan Marichal, and more.

[Brother Buzz]

13. While they were in Kansas City they changed their mascot from The White Elephant to a mule

I think someone was pulling my leg because I was told they changed to the mule mascot because the franchise was so strapped for cash they employed the mule to mow the field. The mule made the move to Oakland, but it was changed back to an elephant.